Come to beautiful Costa Rica – a tropical paradise and one of the world's best destinations for both socio and ecotourism. An abundance of opportunities for conservation amid white sand beaches makes Costa Rica an excellent destination for everyone from sunbathers and surfers to scientists and teachers. Excitement awaits either the adventurer – in the country's rainforests and on top of its steaming, active volcanoes – or those seeking relaxation and the enjoyment of “la pura vida” – the good life in Costa Rica! Global Crossroad's Summer Escapes in Costa Rica provide volunteers with a month-long adventure in Costa Rica – splitting time between volunteering in community services projects, cultural immersion and amazing travel to some of this country's most amazing sites.

 

Our Costa Rica Summer Escapes provide volunteers with a month-long adventure in Costa Rica. This unique cultural and tour filled volunteer package is an excellent alternative to the typical tourist journey, providing participants with the opportunity to be intimately involved in one of our social or conservation projects while learning or improving their Spanish – simultaneously providing amazing and exciting tours of this beautiful country. Following the three (3) weeks of volunteer work and sightseeing and filled tour discovering the astounding beauty that is Costa Rica – relax on sparkling beaches, explore untouched rainforests, all-the-while enjoying the warm, smiling hospitality of Costa Rica's people.

 

Overview of Program

Arrival: Welcome to Costa Rica !

Upon arrival in Costa Rica, you will be met at San Jose's International Airport by a member of Global Crossroad‘s local staff in Costa Rica. From the airport, you will be taken to Global Crossroad's local offices for a brief orientation, followed by an introduction to your host family, concluding the day with a rest period in preparation for the next day's orientation.

Day 1: Introduction and Orientation

Meet with Global Crossroad's local staff members, facilitate a general question/answer sessions, discussion on program itinerary, general orientation on history, culture, tradition, and other important issues (health, safety), and exploration of nearby areas in free time

Days 2-3: Volunteer Work (22 days)

Many families in Costa Rica have been affected by severe poverty with a number of family members dying at an early age – leaving a huge number of orphans without any support and often ending up as street children at an early age. As a volunteer, you will help in a street children and orphan centre, caring for these children and providing vital support and care to them in their early childhood. Here, you will help to provide vital assistance to orphans and local street children within these centers which aim to provide these children hope of future life and reintegrate these children back into society.

For the next 22 days, volunteers will go to different orphanages located throughout San Jose and the surrounding areas. Volunteers will be subdivided in many small groups. Global Crossroad will place 2-5 volunteers in one orphanage depending upon the number of children. As a volunteer in the orphanage project, you will teach English (3-4 hours a day) in the orphanage or schools (when the children attend school during the day). You will help the children by educating them on issues of personal hygiene and sanitation – helping them to brush their teeth, showering, etc. If placed in an infant orphanage, volunteers will help feed infants children, change their diapers and/or bathe them. During the “off-time” (mostly in evening), participants can organize games, drawing lessons, singing, dancing, and other creative, educational and extracurricular activities. In the evening, you will help the children with their homework, monitor their academic progress, and make sure that the children complete the next day's homework assignments. If you do not want to teach in the school during the daytime, you can offer to take care of the children who stay at the orphanage (who cannot yet go to school). Your help is also expected in the dressing of the children, food distribution, kitchen, garden, cleaning and various administrative duties.

Days 24-28: Explore Costa Rica

 

Day 24: Visit San Jose

We will set out on a halfday excursion – seeing some of the highlights of San Jose , such as: The National Museum, the National Theatre, San Jose 's famous Central Market, and the Metropolitan Cathedral. Note that depending upon weather, the San Jose City Tour is often replaced by a cultural evening in Old Town including dinner and traditional Costa Rican dance and folklore shows.

Day 25: Calypso Catamaran Cruise

Early in the morning, we depart (via private van) for the coast to take the Calypso Catamaran Cruise – a-one-day boat tour in the calm waters of the Gulf of Nicoya . Once onboard the 71foot Catamaran, we'll cruise past 23 islands en route to Costa Rica 's famous Isla Tortuga. At Isla Tortuga, you can sunbathe, swim, snorkel, play volleyball, kayak, or just relax in a hammock. A wonderful gourmet meal is elegantly served accompanied by wine and live music.

Day 26: Poas Volcano National Park

We take an awesome tour of one of Costa Rica 's main attractions. Our full day tour begins with a private van-based trip to Poas Volcano National Park , where we will enjoy a cup of authentic Costa Rican coffee with a tropical breakfast and enjoy the view of one of the largest volcano craters in the world. After breakfast, we will take a brief hike to the Botos Lagoon – a dormant volcano crater.

Next, venturing into the Caribbean zone, we will stop to discover La Paz Waterfall Gardens – a nature park where a brief hike takes us to Magia Blanca Falls where we'll also visit the world's largest enclosed butterfly observatory. After lunch, we'll visit two more waterfalls including the La Paz Waterfall. We'll then take the van to Puerto Viejo and enjoy a relaxing boat ride on the Sarapiqui River to observe the abundant wildlife including monkeys, crocodiles, and numerous bird species. On our way back to San Jose , we'll take a drive through the rainforest of Braulio Carrillo National Park – one of Costa Rica 's most important jungle reserves.

Days 27-28: Punta Leona

The final three (3) days and two (2) nights will be spent in Punta Leona – an unspoiled beach on the Pacific coast. Punta Leona is not a regular tourist destination due to its remote location (in comparison to the beaches of Manuel Antonio and Jaco). Punta Leona is a fascinating place, not just for its beaches but also for its nature, wildlife and overall biodiversity. The local reserve is home to the Scarlet Macaw as well as other birds such as Quail and Toucans. Near the beach, there are three excellent hiking trails, which are great for bird-watching.

Program fee covers:

Program fee does not cover:

Note: Program itineraries are just samples and may change to meet the needs of altering field conditions. This itinerary will be finalized in San Jose during orientation.